Burning
Doors
The
Extraction List Series
Book
2
Renee
N. Meland
Genre:
Science Fiction Thriller
Publisher:
Limitless Publishing
Date
of Publication: April 28th, 2015
ISBN:
9781680581119
ASIN:
B00W7GV018
Number
of pages: 164
Book
Description:
Cain
Foley committed his first murder before he could even drive a car…
Not
that he would’ve had anywhere to drive to. When he was fifteen,
America was one of the poorest countries in the world, and its’
citizens took their hatred of that fact out on each other through
gangs and violence.
Children
barely tall enough for carnival rides peppered the streets selling
drugs (or themselves) so they could buy their next meal.
Every
night on the news, Cain watched as an angelic blonde woman who lost
her own child swore she’d end it…
She
assaulted America’s televisions with praise for the Parental
Morality Law: a set of rules that spells out exactly what it takes to
be a parent in the eyes of the government, and the consequences of
breaking those rules. He prayed every night that she’d come to
rescue him before his father took off his belt again.
Before
she could save him, Cain faced a fatal choice…
Fight
back or die on the basement floor.
He
chose life.
Now
on the run, he finds himself being hunted by a police officer with
his own special brand of torture. Before he can save even a handful
of the children who have been swept up in the gang life, he must
first cover up not one, but two murders. His father’s and one
committed by a teenage madam who is either the love of his life, or
his final undoing.
As
he feels himself being pushed further and further to the edge, Cain
realizes that surviving his father was just the beginning.
Excerpt:
The
first time I killed someone, it was an accident. Though I guess it
was the kind of accident that happens when you squeeze your hands
around someone’s neck for too long, or when you shove someone who
is standing too close to the edge of a building. In my case, I
accidentally killed my father when I beat him to death with a pipe.
He
had set me up that night, I’m sure of it. I was always careful to
leave the TV volume down so I wouldn’t be caught. But when I
flipped the power on that night, the news roared. The woman I wanted
to see was there, giving a speech like always, but her voice came out
with the force of thunder. Sweat drenched my body when I heard the
door to my parents’ upstairs bedroom fly open and hit the wall. The
foundation shook and so did my limbs. I sat frozen in a seated
position as I heard his footsteps. All I could focus on were his
shiny patent leather shoes coming toward me. Even in the middle of
the night, he took the time to slip them on.
I
could smell him before I even saw his feet. He constantly stunk of
mouthwash and old cologne; it was some putrid mix of sandalwood and
beach vacations that we would never take. He cackled as he stepped
toward me, so the minty air from his breath reached me before his
hand did. I felt my head hit the floor before I felt the familiar
sting in my cheek.
“You’re
so stupid. You really think you’ll ever leave here? Where do you
think you’re going to go, huh? You need me. She hasn’t come for
you and she never will!” He kicked me in the side with his foot.
My
stomach clenched from the impact.
I
usually kept quiet when he hit me. At most, I would agree with
whatever he was saying to stop him before he did real damage.
It
never worked.
No
matter what I said, or didn’t say, the blows would keep coming. My
mother was always conveniently upstairs, but no one can tell me she
couldn’t hear the snap of his belt or the furniture rattle as he
shoved me into it.
That
night was different. Maybe it was watching the woman from the
television, or maybe it was the way his smile stretched across his
face as he struck me, I don’t know. But when he was finished and
heading back upstairs, I spat towards him.
My
cheeks burned as I did it. In fact, my whole body felt like it was on
fire. But I’d be lying if I said I wished I could take it back.
Even when he turned, eyes wide when he noticed the wad of saliva
glistening on the concrete floor, I didn’t regret it one bit.
I
may have even cracked a smile.
About
the Author:
Renee
N. Meland is an avid writer and reader of speculative fiction. She
and her husband reside in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. When she
is not writing or being a devoted doggy-mom, she is gardening or
learning a new recipe.
She
is currently working on the rest of the books in The Extraction List
Series. Other upcoming projects involve reincarnation, and a house
filled with people who all have something to hide.
Twitter
@reneenmeland
Facebook:
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